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Birds like Portal and Cave Creek Canyon for the variety of habitat and differing micro-climates. You can look for low-altitude birds in the desert and then go up into the mountains to spot high-altitude species. Cave Creek provides a good water source. Being close to Mexico, the region attracts north- and south-flying migrants in season. Everywhere you turn, you'll see fellow visitors with binos and scopes. Bed-and-breakfast inns and other accommodations cater to birders. Residents stock their yards with bird feeders and welcome birders to have a seat (some even provide restrooms!). You can hire a guide, buy a cap with an embroidered hummingbird, look at bird art at the local cafe, and chat with the locals about good birds.
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| AROUND TOWN | |
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| The Portal Store sells birdy caps and hummingbird-themed Colibri wine | |
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| One of many homes that attract birds and birders | |
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| Talk about chance meetings. We met Everett and Lenora on the Patagonia Lake trail, then saw them again at Paton's in Patagonia, and then ran into them in Portal. One of these days, we should get together on purpose! | |
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| Late afternoon birding with Dawn and Jeff | |
| DAVE JASPER'S PLACE | |
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| Dave Jasper, a birding guide with a generous nature and very dry wit, opens his property to birders | |
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| This is the greatest spot for barco-birding . . . just sit back and the birds will come | |
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| Gambel's Quails on the move | Gambel's Quail shoos away a Mourning Dove |
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| Bird feeders adorn the agave "candelabras", mesquite trees and more | |
| LOOKING FOR BARN OWLS IN A COTTON GIN | |
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| Another birder told us that a Barn Owl roosts in an abandoned cotton gin near Rodeo, NM. With Dawn and Jeff, we found the place in the middle of nowhere. The owl was sleeping in a long pipe (see pic at left). We decided to return at dusk. | |
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| What we won't do for a good bird | |
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| At dusk, we returned and found another Barn Owl in another pipe. It was sleeping, too, so we waited 'til dark in hopes of seeing the owls fly out. | |
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| Jeff brought out his 15-year-old blueberry wine, saved for a special occasion. We waited and waited. The owls finally emerged from the pipes and flew over the fields. It was a thrilling sight. No photos, though . . . it was dark! | |
| MORE BIRDERS' HAVENS | |
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| Cave Creek Ranch welcomes its lodging guests and casual visitors for birding | |
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| We visited Cave Creek Ranch on April 2, and these were their month-to-date sightings already | |
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| Dawn found a dangerous fanbelt snake . . . and scared the daylights out of the rest of us! | En route to the Walker House in Paradise |
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| The George Walker House accommodates overnight guests and day visitors | |
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| This kind of barco-birding is the way to go | |
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| Heading toward the higher elevations at Rustler's Park | |
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| Reminders that birds are not the only critters out here -- at left is a colorful gopher snake | |
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